Woodward Avenue: a Road to the Heart and Soul of America On June 13, 2002, Woodward Avenue (M-1) – from the Detroit River to the city of Pontiac – became one of America’s 99 National Byways, and the only urban route so designated. As former U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta noted in his announcement, “…Byways are roads to the heart and soul of America. They create a sense of pride and connect us to the nation’s history and cul- ture. Woodward Avenue put the world on wheels, and America’s automobile heritage is represented along this corridor.” Welcome to Detroit’s main drag…Woodward Avenue. Stretching out from the base of Detroit at the Detroit River, Woodward follows the pathway of growth from the heart of the city. Lined with history, cultural institu- tions and beautiful architecture, Woodward Avenue travels through downtown Detroit, past the Detroit Zoo, the Cranbrook Educational Community in Bloomfield Hills, and on to the city of Pontiac. Nearly every mile of this byway includes historical sites that have shaped the industrial life of our nation. Hop in the car and enjoy the sights while you cruise down Woodward Avenue! 1. Royal Oak’s Shrine of the Little Flower Church 2. Pontiac’s Commercial Historic District 3. Ferndale’s Magic Bag 3 Theater 4 4. The Woodward Dream Cruise 2 COURTESY OF THE WOODWARD DREAM CRUISE, INC. 5. General Motors Building in Detroit 6. Fisher Theater/New Center 7. Detroit Zoo and Water Tower 6 8. Palmer Park in Detroit 9. Museum of African American History 1 10. Detroit Institute of Arts 11. Comerica Tastefest crowd COURTESY OF NEW CENTER COUNCIL, INC. 5 12. America’s Thanksgiving Parade on Woodward (second largest in the nation) COURTESY OF THE PARADE COMPANY 13. City of Detroit Municipal Building and the “Spirit of Detroit” 11 WINTER 2003 A Brief History Long before Detroit was incorporated as “Woodwarding” became the craze in the a city in 1815, Woodward Avenue was 1950s and 1960s. Cruisers gathered at Quick Facts established as a primary transportation drive-in restaurants. Muscle car competi- path by Native Americans. It was known tion hit its heyday in the mid-1960s. The Length: 27 miles as the Saginaw Trail and later became Woodward Dream Cruise, staged from Time to allow for tour: at least five a wood planked “corduroy road” for Ferndale to Pontiac, is one of Metro hours wagon travel. In the 1820s, Woodward Detroit’s most exciting annual events. Named for: Supreme Court Judge included toll booths, and a road com- It attracts more than 1.5 million people Augustus B. Woodward, an early posed of gravel, mud and cedar blocks. from around the world and shows off leader in the city’s history In 1909, the first mile of concrete high- 30,000 classic cars. way in the world was built between Six Designations: and Seven Mile roads by Wayne County. Woodward remains the spine of vital- Designated as Automobile National In 1916, the 27-mile length to Pontiac ity in the Motor City. General Motors Heritage Area by National Park Ser- was paved, and in 1919 the nation’s first moved its headquarters to the Renais- vice (1998) three-color traffic light appeared on the sance Center. Comerica Park, the new Designated as Michigan Heritage thoroughfare. playing field for the Detroit Tigers, Route by MDOT (1999) opened on Woodward. Compuware will The auto industry grew up along soon open its headquarters in the new Designated as National Byway by Woodward. Henry Ford built his first car Campus Martius project. Interest in land- FHWA (2002) at his home there, just four blocks west mark buildings and historic preservation of Woodward. The Model T was built has polished some of Detroit’s jewels For more information about in 1910 in Highland Park. Chrysler was including The Fox and Gem theaters. Woodward Avenue, visit founded three blocks east of Woodward, www.woodwardheritage.com or and GM introduced its new Pontiac line (Information supplied by Woodward www.byways.org/. and GMC truck and coach lines in 1926 Heritage.) MDOT staff involved in the Woodward in Pontiac. Avenue designation as a National Byway: Pete Hanses, Heritage Route Program manager; Paul McAllister, Planning; Ernie Savas, Metro Region Engineer; Jeff Edwards, Metro Region Planning; Mike Eustice, Oakland TSC; Margaret Barondess, Planning; and Jose Lopez, Planning. 7 9 10 8 12 13 WINTER 2003.